The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1887-09-10
THE WEDDING NIGHT.
A Talo of Lithuania From the
German.

twenty-four degrees below zero, and
there was wedding in the village OF
! Upper Eyseln in Lithuania. hard on
the Russian border Christopher
Lagics had his Urte Bcrnotike on hls
arm and badge Of honor on his
breast. From the former he was
recognized as happy bridegroom,
while the latter marked him "a a
brave defender Of his country. Chris
tophcr sat with his Urte in the brides
nook. that Is, the place which. at the
building Of new house in tha (
region, was expressly provided for
over against the giant stove. Under
green fir boughs. adorned with gold
tinscl aud colorcd ribbons, sat the
bridal pair like the lambs in the moss
of n Christmas pyramid. Rejoicing
and mcrrimcnt rang on every side.
for the report had been that Chris
topher was left dead on the battle
field. But when the Lithuanians came
marching home, there was Chris
tophcr with thom, safe and sound. to
the joy of all. aud especially of his
sweetheart. his father and his mother.
Ono only was there to whom this
seemed TO have been no joy, aud that
was his own brother. H. sat near his
father and wore discOntcntcd face
that looked all the more discontcutcd
because hc tried To hide it under as
sumcd mcrrimcnl. In which he sue
ccodcd but poorly. This the old Laglcs
had long observed. He embraced
therefore the opportunity, when his
son stood up to go out into the fresh
air, To say word with him in conf
dcncc.
Michael" said he TO him, "it is
your brothers wedding and your faith
cr's son. If you can not be merry for
his sake, be so for mine. and do not
spoil the day. Your brother had the
heart of your bride, and though she
would not deny you her hand, her
heart llcw TO meet her returning lover,
and mt must decide it. ] will not
think that you now cherish the wish:
Would that my brother had fallen on
the battlc-Gcldr-a the report once
made us fear"
"Nc, certainly not! No, father!
No-but-"
"But whatP | will know what that
bit means"
Father, the thought that il it had
been truc-.it will come into my head
and the thought that | would have
then been the happy one"
THAT what had been true?'
ii don't like to think of it. | am
vcxcd. and | say 10 myself what II
dreadful thought /, Is; but can't help
II. il keeps com II MO my lcld.
THAT your brother might have been
kjllcdP'
God knows try not to think any
more about il! OH. il this wedding
wcrc only OVERT
"My son that is a stain on y'ur soul!
We're vou with us in the church,
did yo1 not 81 y and pray with us for
your brct1cr and have tha pastors
words made no impression on youP'
"Y,s father, sung and prayed with
the rest. but in my lcut were
thousand devils. Blu leave mel give
umy word that WI. forget Urtc
and Chris opher t,o-if ,nly this day
is ever ovcrl'
The fa' her looked his on in the face
with n scr.o $ hut kindly expression,
pattcd him IN the shoulder. spoke few
good words. and went into the house.
There in the mcaulimc al lccl ciing
ard drinking. The old were wiping
their mouths, the young fcl the sol,s
of their feet burn To begin the iancc.
At last the elderly portion of the COM
pany rose from the tables and tn.
iloor-mastcrs began To cl ar away for
the dance. Then Christopher also re-
moved his arm from his brides wais.
gave her hearty Kiss and said;
Now gossip hearts dearest, with
aunts and cousins. Ill bc back I'm
time for the dance, have something
TO DO that will bring us luck"
Saying this he gave her one moro
kiss and left her 10 talk with her kins-
folk lie was out of the room with
spring and across the snow-covercd
moonlight street into his fathers
house. Arrived there. he drew on, in
all haste, pair of shccpSkin lcgginS
long vest of the same material.
Jacket, and still another ShccpSkin-
all over his wedding clothes, So that
the shcepskin lay in one tickucss ON
his legs. twofold on his arms, and
throefold on his breast. Good for the
FROST" said he to himself. 'if have
10 lie in the snow." Than he drew
foxish cap over his head and took his
rifle from the wall. ~ fox shot on
ones wedding-day, as I've heard In
Flanders, brings good luck. said he.
"but must take care to hit him." and
he pushed in the ramrod to make sure
the rifle was loaded. then took his pow
dor-horn and shot.bag. stuck both in
his pockets, and wac. with a few leaps,
out Of the back door to the Nicmen.
whose broad sheet Of ice he quickly
crossed, to low. snow-covered hut
already prepared for his purpose in the
daytime; here he placed himself fiat
on the floor Of the shanty.
Ern,,, tho u,uot,faus tb,,., Ia, tka ell